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The advertisement drew complaints on social media, including some from conservative political consultant, Rob Stutzman.

He tweeted: “This CA taxpayer funded PSA spends most air time normalizing/promoting pot use before saying don’t drive stoned. Imagine same extolling virtues of alcohol? This is is absurd, @JerryBrownGov should nix this.”

This CA taxpayer funded PSA spends most air time normalizing/promoting pot use before saying don’t drive stoned. Imagine same extolling virtues of alcohol? This is is absurd, @JerryBrownGov should nix this. https://t.co/ABfLK6j0ZE

In an interview, Stutzman said he’s glad the ad was removed. He said the ad’s promotional aspect was unintended but clear. “They were trying to identify with marijuana users,” he said. “Unfortunately there was another message – promoting marijuana.”

In a written statement, Office of Traffic Safety Director Rhonda Craft said: “We are cognizant and share the concerns expressed over certain elements of our most recent ads. As a result, we will continue to refine and improve messaging as we move forward.”

Craft and other state officials say they are concerned about the potential for more drugged driving accidents now that any adult 21 and older can legally buy marijuana in California. Marijuana-involved traffic fatalities went up in Colorado after cannabis was legalized there.

The television campaign has been running in Sacramento, the Bay Area and Los Angeles. The advertisement was replaced with an older one about drugged driving. That ad is shorter and more stark than the pulled one, and compares smoking marijuana to cigarette smoking, noting that “smoking a joint can get you a DUI.”

The pulled ad was conceived by Prosio Communications in Roseville. Lori Prosio declined to comment about the ad’s elimination or why the agency used the criticized messaging strategy.